A Teacher’s Tale – Tales of a Family

My Favorite Problem Child

Published on May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 by Ann Marie Bryant6 Comments

Three years ago, I had a little spitfire that entered into my sixth-grade class, and she was a teacher’s worst nightmare. Amelia had an infectious smile that was somewhat crooked in nature, for it veered off at awkward angles. When she was about to be naughty, her eyes would gleam, and she would give that crooked little smile. It was like a beacon to those around her that Amelia was about to rock someone’s world, and not for the better. That glimmer in her eye warned others to take a step or two in the opposite direction because one never quite knew what she was going to do next. Continue reading “My Favorite Problem Child” →

Laughter in the Classroom

Published on April 22, 2018April 22, 2018 by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

Some days, these little ones make me laugh. I have a boy in one of my classes. He comes in my first hour and says, “Open up your hand.” I open my hand, and he dumps all these coins into my palm.

Continue reading “Laughter in the Classroom” →

My Retirement Plan

Published on February 25, 2018February 25, 2018 by Ann Marie Bryant7 Comments

So today, I told my kiddos, my students, that they were my retirement plan. While they sat in class laughing over our metaphors and similes assignment, I explained that was secretly writing down all of the funny and sweet things they said in class, and that one day I was going to write a book about them, and it would be a best-seller that would help supplement my income when I retired. Continue reading “My Retirement Plan” →

Devin and the Rubix Cube

Published on February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 by Ann Marie Bryant5 Comments

For two days, I constantly repeated to the young boy, “Devin! Put away your Rubix cube and do your work!” Finally, in frustration, I took his cube and told him if he wanted it back. his father could pick it up for him after school. Continue reading “Devin and the Rubix Cube” →

Romance –Middle School Style

Published on February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 by Ann Marie Bryant3 Comments

Every year our school has held a dance on Valentine’s Day for our students. The week of the gala, romances have always sprung up as the big day approaches, and every year, teachers on the sixth-grade team begin a “verbal” pool about how many breakups will occur and how many hearts will be broken before the school dance actually takes place. Continue reading “Romance –Middle School Style” →

A Teacher’s List: Things A Teacher Will Say in the Classroom

Published on May 4, 2017June 29, 2017 by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

In April, my students and I began working on our poetry chapbooks. For one of the poems, we wrote a list poem. List poems have always been fun, for they can rhyme or not, and they can pretty much be about anything. Continue reading “A Teacher’s List: Things A Teacher Will Say in the Classroom” →

Birthday Surprises…even in May

Published on May 3, 2017June 29, 2017 by Ann Marie Bryant4 Comments

Why is an ice cube so smart?

Since my life as a school teacher has usually kept me hopping, I have tried to remember to slow down and enjoy all the precious moments that make each day special. Today was one of those days that I want to remember because my students went out of their way to make my day something memorable. Continue reading “Birthday Surprises…even in May” →

A Home Run

Published on April 28, 2017June 29, 2017 by Ann Marie Bryant6 Comments

On most days, my blonde-haired, blue-eyed demon child sat in class while refusing to work once again. Of course as soon as I would turn my back, my “angelic” little monster would begin to taunt the other sixth grade students who were quietly and diligently doing their writing assignment. He made the typical clown faces to make the others laugh, or he would whisper to those around him because he would do anything possible to keep from writing….well that is until today. Continue reading “A Home Run” →